Shoe upper treating method and apparatus



Sept. 5, 1939. M. L. DODGE SHOE UPPER TREATING METHOD AND APPARATUSFiled Oct. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 5, 1939. M. L. DODGE2,171,543

SHOE UPPER TREATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 40 Z! 6 if /Z Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE SHOE UPPER TREATING METHOD AND APPARATUS 17 Claims.

This invention relates to the treating of shoe uppers, and moreparticularly to the shaping thereof against a'form over which the shoeis placed, the shaping being accomplished at least partly, by the actionof a pair of side presser members, which press the sides of the shoeupper against the form.

Shoes of certain types are provided with continuous quarters extendingabout the heel ends of the shoes instead of the more common constructionwhere the quarter comprises two side pieces joined together at the heelend of the shoe by a vertical seam. One of the more common types ofshoes provided with a continuous quarter around the heel end is theso-called opera slipper".

If it be attempted to treat a shoe provided with such a continuousquarter around the heel by a pressing machine having the two separateouter pressing members or jaws movable bodily toward and from a shoesupporting form, these members, not fitting close together at the heelend, leave a portion of the shoe between them which is not pressed, andthis portion is likely to be bulged outwardly between the pressermembers as these members engage and then press against the sides of theshoe upper and form an undesirable rib or wrinkle which detracts fromthe appearance of the finished shoe. Even if the quarter is providedwith a back seam, the presser members do not exert such pressure at theextreme heel end of the shoe as to produce the desired thinning andhiding of the top edge of the lining which is produced along the sidesof the shoe opening.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, means are providedfor pressing the shoe upper rim at its extreme heel end and preventingthe formation of this undesirable rib or wrinkle when it might otherwiseoccur and while retaining the otherwise advantageous arrangement ofopposed outside presser members. To this end, a continuous member isinterposed between the outer members and the shoe, this member being ofsheet form and continuous around the'heel end of the shoe and preferablyof metal. Preferably, in order to exert the desired degree of formingpressure on the heel end, the outer presser members are brought togetherwith a forward component of pressure against the flexible member andthus against the heel endof the shoe. It is also highly desirable toproduce an upward wiping pressure to extend the outer layer of the shoeupper beyond the top edge of the lining so as to render the lining edgeless conspicuous by reason of the pressing action, and this, as well asthe elimination of lining wrinkles, may be further aided by heating theinside form.

For a more complete understanding of the 5 invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 areside andfront elevations, respectively, of a machine constructed in accordancewith this invention and particularly 10 suitable for operation on operaslippers.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the re- .lation of certain of theparts of the machine, the slipper being shown in dash lines, and otherparts of the machine being omitted.

Figure 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Figure 1, but showing theshoe in position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, butv showing the parts inpressing positions.

Figure 6 is a detail section on line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a detail perspective view similar to Figure 3, but showingparts suitable for use on a pump.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 7, but showing 1.- furthermodification.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, at I is shown a suitable table orsupport to which may be secured a bracket 2 having a gooseneck portion3. To the forward end of this gooseneck portion is secured a form 4shaped to receive thereover a shoe to be pressed. As shown this form hasside faces 5 positioned to have the side wall portions of the shoe upperpressed thereagainst, these side wall portions 5 being inclined inwardlyand upwardly toward the free end of the gooseneck portion 3. The formshown in these figures is shaped particularly to receive the heel endportion of an opera slipper, the form being extended forwardly to asufficient extent to permit engagement therewith of the entire length ofthe quarter or counter portion of the slipper, this terminatingforwardly, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, at 6. The top margin of thisquarter or counter portion is curved downwardly, as shown by dash linesI in Figure 3, and it engages outwardly of the rear end portions of theforward or vamp portion of the shoe upper as shown by dash lines at 8.

To the forward face of the gooseneck portion 3 is shown pivotallymounted thereon at 10, an arm I I having at its upper end an abutmentportion I2 positioned back of the heel end of the form. It may be heldin proper adjusted position by any suitable means such as the threadedrods l3 pivoted to the arm and gooseneck portion, respectively, andconnected by a turnbuckle It. This arm ll acts to support a flexiblesheet material presser member 20 of substantial width to engage over asubstantial area of the shoe upper. This member may well be of sheetmetal, it having been found that metal in direct contact with the shoeupper is much more effective than softer material such as leather,rubber, or the like, in removin upper wrinkles, particularly in kidshoes, and is of such shape normally that its forward end portions tendto spring away. from the sides of the form as shown in Figure 4.Intermediate of the ends it extends continuously about the rear or heelend of the form, and the lower portion of its rear wall may be secured,as by screws 22, to the abutment l2. For a purpose which will laterappear, the upper portion of this resilient pressing element is spacedfrom the abutment l2 and the forward wall of this abutment adjacent tothe presser member is beveled to form the inclined faces 23. The pressermember 20, in the nonpressing positions of the parts, is spacedsuficiently from both the sides and heel end of the form to permit ashoe to be placed over the form or removed therefrom and within thispresser member.

Cooperating with the presser member 20 to press this shoe'upper againstthe form are two side presser members or jaws 25 having their innerfaces generally complemental to the opposed faces of the form. Thesejaws or members are carried at the upper ends of a pair of arms 26pivoted at 21 on axes substantially parallel to the lengthwise axis ofthe form. 'The lower ends of the arms 26 are joined by the two togglelinks 28 to which they may be connected by adjustable pivots 29, therebyto determine the pressure of the side jaws against the presser member20, the shoe upper and the form, when the parts are in pressingpositions. The toggle links 28 are shown as pivoted together, as at 29,and this'pivot is attached to the upper end of a rod 30 slidable througha guide member' 3| on the forward face of the bracket 2. This rod 30 isconnected through links 32 to a lever 33 fulcrumed at 34 to the lowerend of the bracket 2. By manipulation ofa handle 35 on the upper end ofthis lever 33, the toggle links may be swung to made position to bringthe side jaws 25 against the presser member 20 and force it intowrapping contact against the shoe upper to press the shoe upper againstthe form. Preferably the rear end portions of the side presser members25 are curved inwardly as at 40 so that they will come substantiallytogether when they are in pressing relation as shown in Figure 5, thepresser member 20 acting to bridge any slight gap between them. Thisformation of the rear ends of the presser members relieves the member20, which may be of relatively thin metal, from any rearward componentof force from the form, and in order to press the member 20 firmlyagainst the end of a shoe upper, particularly along its upper margin,the extreme ends of the presser members 25 are beveled oif at 4| tocooperate with the inclined faces 23 of the abutment, and force the sidepresser jaws and the upper portion of the member 20 forwardly againstthe form. This serves to take up any lost motion in the parts andinsures a close engagement of the shoe upper to the form around its heelend, and more especially adjacent to its top margin.

The cooperating inclined faces 5 of the form and those of the sidepresser jaws 25 and the presser member 20 cause the form to be wedgeddownwardly, the g'ooseneck 3 yielding under this pressure slightly, soas to produce an upward wiping component of pressure of the member 20against the outer face of the upper which tends to extend the top marginof the outer upper lamination over the edge of the lining so that thelining becomes less conspicuous than before the pressing action. Thisaction may be enhanced by heating the form, for this purpose the pressermember being pro-- vided with a socket portion 50 to receive an electricor other suitable heating element 5| as shown in Figure 6. It will benoted by reference to this figure, that the member 20 is secured to theabutment member only along its lower edge, the upper portion of themember 20 being spaced from the abutment l2 and being free to'be pressedforwardly against the rear end of the shoe upper by the rear extremitiesof the side presser members 25 which pass into this space and force thetop portion of the member 20 forwardly relative to the form.

The presser member 20, as shown in Figure 6, is preferably extendedsufficiently far forwardly so as to engage the entire length of thecounter portion of the opera slipper. Where shoes of other types areemployed in which the side walls extend to the throat of the shoe, it ispreferable to extend the form, the sheet material member, and the sidepresser members forwardly so that the full lengthwise extent of the shoeupper margin may be pressed. A sheet material presser member so formedis shown in Figure 7. When desired, however, this member may beshortened and have its forward ends beveled to a thin edge as shown at55 in Figure 8, this presser member then being only for the purpose ofpressing the heel end of the shoe and for bridging any space between therear ends of the side presser members as they approach final pressingpositions. Care must be taken, however, with this shortened bridgingmeniber so that no mark may be made on the shoe upper at the forwardextremity of this bridging member, and for this reason the preferableconstruction is to extend the sides of this member forwardly to the fullpressing extent, thus to insure the pressing of the side wall of theshoe at least along its upper margin for the full length wherepressingtreatment is desired. Particularly where a shoe is provided with anoutside heel seam stay, the shortened presser member as shown in Figure8 may be quite satisfactory.

One factor in the effective action of the sheet metal presser member inremoving wrinkles is that it becomes heated from the heated inner form,and this acts as a heated ironing element for the outside of the shoeupper.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention,it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement by the shoe upper, anelement positioned to extend about the heelend of the shoe upper in asingle layer, outer pressing members having their inner faces generallycomplemental to the opposed faces of said form, and means for movingsaid outer pressing members and form relatively to cause said pressingmembers to engage said element and close said element against the shoeupper and press the shoe upper against said form.

2. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper,outer presser members having their inner faces generally complemental tothe opposed faces of *said form and movable-from and toward oppositesides of said form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, and a sheetmaterial member extending in a single layer about the heel end of theshoe upper and bridging the space between said members as they arebrought into pressing position.

3. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a 'shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper,outer presser members having their inner faces generally complemental tothe opposed faces of said form and movable from and toward oppositesides of said form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, and a metallicmember extending about the heelend of the shoe upper and bridging thespace between said presser members as they are brought into pressingposition and engaged on its outer face thereby.

4. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper,outer presser members movable from and toward oppositev sides of saidform to press the shoe upper thereagainst, and a member ex tending aboutthe heel end of the shoe upper and bridging the space between saidpresser members as they are brought into pressing position, said machinehaving means pressing said lastmentioned member against the heel end ofthe shoe upper while said outer presser members are in pressingpositions.

5. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper, apair of outer presser members movable from and toward opposite sides ofsaid form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, and a pressing memberextending about the heel end of the shoe on said form and bridging thespace between said. outer presser members when said presser members arein pressing position, said presser members having in-turned heel endportions engageable with the outer face of said heel end pressing memberwhen in pressing positions.

6. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper, apair of outer presser members movable from and toward opposite sides ofsaid form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, a pressing memberextending about the heel end of the shoe on said form and bridging thespace between said outer presser members when said presser members arein'pressing position, said presser members having in-turned heel endportions engageable with the outer face of said heel end pressing memberwhen in pressing positions, and means for pressing said outer pressermembers forwardly relative to said form when in pressing positions tocause said heel end pressing member to press the heel end of the shoeupper forwardly against said form.

'7. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper, apair of outer presser members movable from and toward opposite sides ofsaid form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, a pressing memberextending about the heel end of the shoe on said form and bridging thespace between said outer presser members when said presser members arein pressing position, said presser members having in-turned heel endportions engageable with the outer face of said heel end pressing memberwhen in pressing positions, and an abutment positioned at the heel endof said form and provided with inclined faces contacted by inclined endfaces of said outer presser members as said outer presser membersapproach pressing positions to force said outer pressing members andsaid heel end presser member forwardly relative to said form and pressthe heel end of said upper against said form.

8. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface forengagement with the shoe upper, apair of outer presser members movable from and toward opposite sides ofsaid form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, a pressing memberextending about the heel end of the shoe on said form and bridging thespace between said outer presser members when said presser members arein pressing position, said presser members having in-turned heel endportions engageable with the outer face of said heel end pressing memberwhen in pressing positions, and an abutment positioned at the heel endof said form and provided with inclined faces contacted by inclined endfaces of said outer presser members as said outer presser membersapproach pressing positions to force said outer presser members and saidheel end pressing member forwardly relative to said form and press theheel end of said upper against said form, said heel end pressing memberbeing supported by said abutment.

9. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper, asheet material member extending in a single layer along opposite sidesand continuously around the heel end of said form outwardly of the upperof a shoe placed on said form, and side presser members having theirinner facesgenerally complemental to the opposed faces of said form andengageable with the outside of said sheet material member and actuatedto close said sheet material member toward and press the shoe upperagainst said form.

10. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upperadjacent to its top margin, a flexible member extending around the backof the heel portion of a shoe on said form and along opposite sidesthereof and normally spaced from said form sufficiently to permit a shoeto be placed on or removed from said form, supporting means for saidflexible member secured thereto remote from the top edge line of theshoe upper and spaced therefrom opposite to said top edge line, and sidepresser members on the opposite sides of said form and movabletheretoward to press the forward portions of said flexible member towardsaid form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, said side pressermembers having portions entering said space as they are moved towardpressing positions and forcing the adjacent portion of said flexiblemember against the heel end of the shoe adjacent to its upper edge.

11. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upperadjacent to its top margin, a flexible member extending around the backof the heel portion of ashoe on said form and along opposite sidesthereof and normally spaced from said form sufficiently to permit a shoeto be placed on or removed from said form, supporting means for saidflexible member secured thereto remote from the top edge line of theshoe upper and spaced therefrom opposite to said top edge line, and sidepresser members on the opposite sides of said form and movabletheretoward to press the forward portions of said flexible member towardsaid form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, said side pressermembers having portions entering said space as they are moved towardpressing positions and forcing the adjacent portion of said flexiblemember against the heel end of the shoe adjacent to its upper edge, saidsupport and side presser members having beveled faces cooperating assaid side presser members approach pressing positions to force said sidepresser members forwardly with respect to said form. 12. A shoe upperforming machine comprising a support having a gooseneck bracket portion,a form secured to the end of said portion and over which the upper of ashoe may be placed and presenting opposite side faces in-turned towardtheir upper edge and toward said goo'seneck portion, and against whichthe sides of the shoe upper may be pressed, an arm pivoted to anintermediate part of said gooseneck portion and having its free endportion presented back of the heel end of said form, a resilient sheetmaterial presser member secured intermediate to its ends to said freeend portion and extending along the sides of said form and normallyspaced therefrom to permit a shoe to be placed on or removed from saidform, a pair of side presser members mounted for motion from and towardthe sides of said form and to press said sheet material presser memberagainst a shoe on said form, said side presser members having inclinedfaces cooperating with said in-turned faces to flex said gooseneckportion in a direction tocause an upward pressing component on the outerface of said shoe upper when the side presser members are brought intopressing positions.

13. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a heated form over which ashoe may be placed and presenting a surface for engagement by the shoeupper, a sheet metal element positioned to extend about the heel end ofthe shoe upper. and mean actuable to wrap said element into contact withthe upper of a shoe on said form for a substantial width along the topmargin of the upper, and to press the shoe upper against said form.

14. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed, and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper,and means for pressing the upper against said form including a pair ofseparate side presser members mounted to move bodily toward each other,said members being curved inwardly to engage about the heel end of theshoe and when in pressing position substantially in contact with eachother.

15. The method which comprises compressing and turning inwardly in asingle operation the top margin of a shoe upper on each side and aroundthe heel end and with an upward wiping component exerted on the outerface of a shoe upper.

16. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper,outer presser members movable from and toward opposite sides of saidform, and a member extending about the heel end of said form, said outerpresser members and extending member having contacting faces cooperatingwhen said outer presser members are moved toward said form to move saidextending member toward said form.

17. A shoe upper forming machine comprising a form over which a shoe maybe placed and presenting a surface for engagement with the shoe upper,outer presser members movable from and toward opposite sides of saidform, a member extending about the heel end of said form, an abutmentpositioned at the heel end of said form, said abutment and outer pressermembers having parts cooperating as said presser members are movedtoward said form to press said extending member forwardly toward-theheel end of said form and press the heel end of a shoe upper placed onsaid form.

MILTON L. DODGE.

